Remote VP, Payer Strategy & Partnerships

The Emily Program; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Short‑term disability insurance

Long‑term disability insurance

Company‑paid life insurance

401(k) plan after start date

Company 401(k) matching up to 50% up 6

Job summary

The Emily Program seeks a Vice President of Payer Relations to define and lead payer strategy across commercial, Medicaid/Medicare, and other managed care partners. This senior executive ensures sustainable reimbursement and access, aligning contracts with our specialized eating disorder care across all levels of care, including inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient, and virtual services.

The role acts as the organization’s chief liaison with payers, leads negotiations, develops

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Healthcare Administration, or related field required.
• Advanced degrees (MBA, MHA, MPH, or JD) preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in payer relations, managed care, or healthcare contracting.
• Minimum 7 years in senior leadership roles with track record of managing teams.
• Deep expertise in behavioral health reimbursement (eating disorder treatment preferred).
• Demonstrated success negotiating complex payer agreements in multi-state environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a unified payer strategy across The Emily Program.
• Advise executive leadership on payer risks, reimbursement trends, and opportunities.
• Align payer strategy with growth priorities, including new markets, services, and partnerships.
• Lead all aspects of payer contracting (in-network, out-of-network, single case agreements).
• Structure contracts reflecting acuity, length of stay, level-of-care differentiation, and risk.
• Serve as executive contact for national, regional, and local payer relationships.
• Build strategic payer partnerships and lead executive discussions on access, medical necessity, authorizations, and network participation.
• Partner with Revenue Cycle Management and Finance to monitor reimbursement rates and denials; improve net revenue realization.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, Healthcare Administration, or related field

MBA, MHA, MPH or JD preferred

Job description

The Emily Program seeks a Vice President of Payer Relations to define and lead payer strategy across commercial, Medicaid/Medicare, and other managed care partners. This senior executive ensures sustainable reimbursement and access, aligning contracts with our specialized eating disorder care across all levels of care, including inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient, and virtual services.

The role acts as the organization’s chief liaison with payers, leads negotiations, develops